Grapple.



PATENTED APR. 21, 190:8.

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o RUDMAN GRA1 PLE. APPLICATION FILED 10V 18, 190? Quorum? S wi h1 una OTTO RODMAN, OF MAXWELL; CALIFORNIA.

GRAPPLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, isos.

Application led November 16, 1907. Serial No. 403,464.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro RODMAN, a citi.

California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grapples, and more particularly an implement oi this kind to be used for loading bales ol hay, cotton or other material. A

The invention comprises a fork having ivoted tines which grab the bale and are ocked in their closed position by a latch yvl'ich is operablefrom a distance to trip "the )a e.

The object of the invention is to provide a grapple of this kind which will readily take bales of different sizes and shapes, and which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and easily handled.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a form of tine.

horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 and 6 denote the two branches of the fork which are 'two spaced plates between which, adjacent their extremities, are pivoted the tines Z. At the head of the fork is an eye or other suitable device 8 for attachment to the hoisting-rope. The outer ends of the tines are curved inwardly and pointed as usual o as to enter the baled material.

At 1U is indicated a lever having a slot 11. The lever extends at one end between and is ivoted at 12 to the plates constituting the ranch 5 ofthe fork. The other, end of the lever extends between the plates constituting the branch 6 of the fork and has an eye 13 for attachment of the triprope 14. The branch 6 carries a pulley 15 over which the triprfc passes. The inner ends of the tines are apted to enter the slot 11, and at or about the middle ofO said slot is secured a block 16 which is-n the path of said ends of the tines,

whereby. they are prevented from swin,ingl

0 t0 release the bale. Near the head of t je fork, the branches 5 and 6 are connected on both sides by cross bars 17 between which 'is .fastened lever `10. Between the plates forming; the

a spring 18 which presses on th branch 6 is a sto -blo'ck 19 to limit the downward swing of tlie lever. The latteris normally held pressed against the -stop-block by the spring 18.

In use, the lever 10 is; sWung upwardly as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This releases the tines 7 by removing the block 16 out of the path of their inner ends, thus ermitting them to swing open as shown by otted lines in Fig. 1. The inner ends of the tines are in diilerent planes so thatl they may pass each other when they swing to this p0- sition. After the tines are stuck into the bale, the tri -rope is released and the lever 10 is permittec to swing down so that the inner ends of the tines enter the slot 11, with the block 16 between the tines; whereby they are revented from swingin down to release the oad. The fork is then e evated and upon arriving at the place where the bale is to be dropped, the trip-rope 14 is pulled which swings the lever 10upwardl and removes the block `16 from the path o the inner ends of the tines 7 whereupon they swing open by the weight of the bale which then drops.

In Fig. 3 is shown a xnodiied form of tine which is intended to bei used for loadin sacks. The outer end of this tine is widene and shaped so as to hold a sack. Two of these tines, mounted and operated as hereinbefore described, are employed.

A fork constructed as herein described is reliable in operation, it can be easily handled, and it has no complicated parts to get out of order.

I claim 1. A grap le comprising a furcate frame, tines pivote to the branches of said frame, a lever pivoted to the frame, and a stop-block carried by the lever in the path of the inner e'nds of the tines.

2. A grap le comprising a furcate frame, tines pivote( to the branches of said frame, a lever pivoted to said frame and having a slot to receive the inner ends of the tines, and a sto -block in said slot in the ath of the tines.

n testimony whereof I ai X my signature,v

` GEO. B. HARDEN, GEO. L. HARDEN. 

